History of brewing in Rochester, New York explained

The city of Rochester, New York—before being known as the birthplace of Kodak, Xerox, and Bausch & Lomb—was internationally known for its robust brewing industry. Indeed, the city was uniquely positioned for such an industry in the early 19th century. The corn, rye, barley, wheat, and other grains grown in the Genesee River Valley were shipped down river to be milled in such quantity that by 1838 Rochester was world's largest flour producer, earning it the nickname the Flour City.

When the Erie Canal opened in Rochester in 1823 the city became a true western Boomtown, growing from a population of 9,200 in 1821 to 36,000 by 1850—a year in which the city has at least 20 breweries in operation.[1] The emergence of the canal also allowed for the easy delivery of hops, grown to such an extent in area the between Albany and Syracuse that by 1849 the region produced more than anywhere else in the country, eventually selling more than three million pounds annually by 1855.[2] [3]

A large influx of German immigrants escaping famine and war in the late 1840s also contributed to the industry's growth. During the 1850s another dozen breweries began operating. By 1880, 13 breweries produced a product valued at $1,411,000. By the early 20th century, brewing was an immensely successful industry in the city. In 1901 470,000 barrels of beer and another 105,000 barrels of ale were produced.[4] In 1909 nine major breweries supplied not only the local market, but the entire northeast. While the breweries themselves were large employers, they also supported a number of other industries including bottlers; salesmen; teamsters; ice cutters; farmers growing wheat, barley, and hops; tavern keepers; lithographers (for labels); wagon makers and horsemen. In turn, the sale of brewery grain to farmers brought about $100,000 to local brewers. Beer was applauded by brewers and many doctors as healthy a liquid bread.[5]

Prohibition shuttered the Rochester brewing scene in 1919. After Prohibition, only five breweries would reopen in Rochester. By 1970, only the Genesee Brewing Company was left.

Today, more than a dozen independent craft brewers operate in the City of Rochester, and another two dozen within Monroe County.

Pre-prohibition

Post-prohibition

There were at least seven breweries operating in Rochester as the 18th amendment ended production of most alcohol. Some successfully converted to other industries. Bartholomay, for example, converted to dairy production, introducing Bartholomay Quality Ice Cream in July 1919.[52] The American Brewing Company changed its name to Rochester Food Products Corporation and sold malt extract, apple cider, vinegar, and Rochester Special “near beer,” a legal product that contained less than 0.05% alcohol.

See also

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Book: McDaniels . Skeeter . Brewed in Rochester A Photographic History of Beer in Rochester, NY 1885-1975 . 2008 . Mountain Air Books . Rochester, NY . 9780615249414.
  2. Web site: Robinson . Alex . New York Farmers Hope To Discover New Hops . Modern Farmer . 25 July 2019 . 21 May 2022.
  3. Web site: Baur . JOe . New York State: America's Former Hop Capital . craftbeer.com . 24 October 2013 . 21 May 2022.
  4. Book: Rochester: The Power City 1900-1901 . 1901 . Rochester Chamber of Commerce . Rochester, NY . 169 .
  5. McKelvey . Blake . The Germans of Rochester Their Traditions and Contributions . Rochester History . January 1958 . 20 . 1 .
  6. Book: Ely . Heman . Records of the Descendants of Nathaniel Ely . 1885 . Short & Porman, Printers and Stationers . Cleveland, Ohio . 174, 71, 34 . 13 January 2024.
  7. News: To Farmers . 16 May 2022 . Rochester Telegraph . 13 January 1824.
  8. News: Rochester Brewery . 16 May 2022 . Rochester Telegraph . 26 October 1824.
  9. Web site: Walking Tour of Rochester's One Hundred Acre Plot . lowerfalls.org . 22 May 2022.
  10. News: Our Village . 16 May 2022 . 15 February 1825 . Rochester Telegraph.
  11. Book: Rochester Directory . 1834 . C. & M. Morse . Rochester, NY . 60 .
  12. Book: History and Commerce of Rochester Illustrated, 1894 . 1894 . A.F. Parsons Publishing Company . New York . 84 . 28 May 2022.
  13. Book: McIntosh . W.H. . History of Monroe County, NY . 1877 . Everts, Ensign, and Everts . Philadelphia . 119 . 25 October 2022.
  14. News: German News . 13 November 2022 . Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (1871-1884) . 240 . Rochester Publishing Company . August 28, 1881. 49 . .
  15. Pfaefflin, Hermann; Wallenberg, Rudolf; Swinney, H.J. (2007). A 100-Year History of the German Community in Rochester, NY 1815-1915. Rochester, NY: The Federation of German-American Societies. ISBN 9780615163352
  16. Web site: Old New York Central railroad station . Monroe County Library . 5 November 2023.
  17. Book: Pfaefflin . Hermann . Wallenberg . Rudolf . Swinney . H.J. . A 100-Year History of the German Community in Rochester, NY 1815-1915 . 2007 . The Federation of German-American Societies . Rochester, NY . 9780615163352.
  18. News: Bought for a Factory . 13 November 2022 . Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (1871-1884) . 31 August 1881. .
  19. News: Brewery Burned . 28 January 2024 . 44. 179 . Democrat and Chronicle . 27 July 1876 . 4.
  20. News: Brewery to Change Its Name . 13 November 2022 . Democrat and Chronicle (1884-2009) . 13 August 1902. .
  21. Book: Rochester and Monroe County Pictorial and Biographical . 1908 . The Pioneer Publishing Co. . New York and Chicago . 199–201 . 7 August 2022.
  22. Book: Peck . William . History of Rochester and Monroe County, New York From the Earliest Historic Times to the Beginning of 1907 . 1908 . The Pioneer Publishing Co. . New York and Chicago . 555–6 . 5 November 2022.
  23. Book: The Industrial Advance of Rochester: A Historical, Statistical, and Descriptive Review . 1884 . National Publishing Company . 123 . 20 November 2022.
  24. A History of the Brewery and Liquor Industry of Rochester, NY (PDF). Rochester, NY: The Kearse Publishing Company. 1907. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  25. Book: The Rochester Directory . 1884 . Drew, Allis & Company . Rochester, NY . 194 . 4 November 2022.
  26. News: Mortuary Calendar . 13 November 2022 . Democrat and Chronicle (1884-2009) . 28 June 1889. .
  27. News: Enright Brewery Closes Plant . 13 November 2022 . Democrat and Chronicle (1884-2009) . 23 September 1907. .
  28. News: Genesee Country Museum. Polmenteer . Vaughn . 13 November 2022 . Democrat and Chronicle (1884-2009) . 9 July 1978. .
  29. News: Joseph Nunn . 13 November 2022 . Democrat and Chronicle (1884-2009) . Rochester Printing Company . 28 February 1904. .
  30. News: Honored by His Friends: Supervisor Joseph Yawman Observes his Golden Wedding . 20 May 2023 . Democrat and Chronicle . 29 May 1888. .
  31. Web site: Walking Tour of Rochester's One Hundred Acre Plot . lowerfalls.org . 22 May 2022.
  32. News: Sharp . Brian . Cleveland . Will . Rochester aims to recapture its rich brewery history . 18 May 2022 . Democrat and Chronicle . 6 April 2018.
  33. News: A Change in Business . 7 June 2023 . Democrat and Chronicle . 2 October 1873. .
  34. The City of Rochester Illustrated (PDF). Rochester NY: The Post-Express Printing Company. 1890. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  35. Book: The Industrial Advance of Rochester: A Historical, Statistical, and Descriptive Review . 1884 . National Publishing Company . 100 . 20 November 2022.
  36. Web site: Rochester Brewing Co. . 16 May 2022.
  37. Book: Laws of the State of New York . 1878 . A. Bleecker Banks . Albany . 526 . 9 November 2022.
  38. Brewing in New York State Thirty-Five Years Ago . The Western Brewer . July 15, 1915 . 45 . 15 . 10 . 3 November 2022.
  39. News: Skoal! Beer puts big head on city's history . 4 December 2022 . Democrat and Chronicle (1884-2009) . 10 November 1974. .
  40. One Hundred Years of Brewing A Complete History of the Progress Made in the Art, Science and Industry of Brewing in the World, Particularly During the Nineteenth Century. Chicago and New York: H.S. Rich and Co. 1903. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  41. News: Deckert . Andrea . Pfaudler becomes piece of $20B Houston company . 19 May 2022 . Rochester Business Journal . 22 February 2013.
  42. Book: Parker . Jenny Marsh . Rochester A Story Historical . 1884 . Scrantom, Wetmore and Co. . Rochester, NY . 395 . 3 November 2022.
  43. News: Buying Up Breweries . 17 May 2022 . The New York Times . 15 February 1889.
  44. Book: Leavy . Michael . Leavy . Glenn . Rochester's Dutchtown . 2004 . Arcadia Publishing . Charleston SC . 0738536857 . 26.
  45. Web site: From Eyesore to Opportunity: Rochester's Cataract Brewhouse – Landmark Society.
  46. Rosenberg-Naparsteck, Ruth (1992). "A Brief History of Brewing in Rochester" (PDF). Rochester History. LIV (2). Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  47. News: Serious Explosion Three Men Injured by Natural Gas in a Well . 23 May 2023 . Democrat and Chronicle . 26 June 1900. .
  48. News: Stock Companies Certificates of Incorporation Filed at Albany Yesterday . 23 May 2023 . Democrat and Chronicle . 27 June 1901. .
  49. Book: Illustrated Rochester, 1898-1899 . 1899 . Rochester Chamber of Commerce . 31 . 23 October 2022.
  50. News: Transfers of Union Brewery Plant to Monroe Brewing Company . 13 November 2022 . Democrat and Chronicle (1884-2009) . 6 September 1899. .
  51. News: New Real Estate Brokerage Stock Issue Austhorized . 13 November 2022 . Democrat and Chronicle (1884-2009) . 10 May 1927. .
  52. News: Announcing Bartholomay Quality Ice Cream . 12 January 2024 . Democrat and Chronicle . 20 July 1919 . 40.
  53. News: Genesee Country Bringing the Beer Home . 3 December 2022 . Democrat and Chronicle (1884-2009) . 13 September 1980. .
  54. News: Rochesterians Reorganizing Brewing Firm . 3 December 2022 . Democrat and Chronicle . 6 July 1932. .
  55. News: . 22 March 1933 . A Law is Modified..A Law-Abiding Rochester Institution Resumes Operation . Rochester Evening Journal . Rochester, NY . 25 April 2022.
  56. Web site: Gillman . Gary . Liebotschaner – of Genesee, of Liebotschan. Part I. . Gary Gillman's Beer et seq. . 18 May 2022.
  57. News: Morrell . Alan . Whatever Happened To ... Standard Brewery? . 17 May 2022 . Democrat and Chronicle.
  58. Book: McDaniels . Skeeter . Brewed in Rochester A Photographic History of Beer in Rochester, NY 1885-1975 . 2008 . Mountain Air Books . Rochester, NY . 9780615249414.
  59. News: Brewery Bankrupt Suds to Stop at Standard . 3 December 2022 . Democrat and Chronicle (1884-2009) . 9 June 1970. .
  60. Web site: Finney . Michael . N.Y. Brewery advertisement on a N.Y. made lidded beer stein . Stein Collectors International . 17 May 2022.
  61. News: Morrell . Alan . Whatever Happened To ... Standard Brewery? . 16 May 2022 . Democrat and Chronicle . 21 May 2016.